Saqez (Saghez)

Saqez (also known as Saghez, Saqqez, Saqqiz, Saqiz, and Sakiz) is a city which is the capital of Saqqez County, Kurdistan Province, Iran. The Kurds and their Iranian ancestors have lived in Saqqez and its surrounding area since about 1000 BC. By the mid-seventh century BC the Scythians reached their zenith in western Asia under Bartatua, and the Saqqez region was their political center. Saqqez has a variety of wildlife, including bears (wrch), wolves, squirrels, partridge, eagles, foxes, antelope, quail and hogs. Saqqez has a varied climate with cold snowy winters and hot dry summers.